Pioneer Foods Recalls LiquiFruit and Ceres Apple Juice Products

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has urged consumers in South Africa to return 100% Apple juice produced by Pioneer Foods. This includes both LiquiFruit and Ceres 100% apple juice.

“Consumers who have these products must not consume them but return them immediately to the point of purchase,” said the NCC in a statement on Friday. Consumers will be given a refund or replacement voucher.

LiquiFruit said in a statement on its site that there’s is a potential “food safety issue” because “a limited quantity of apple juice concentrate supplied to us, contained elevated levels of patulin.”

Patulin is a naturally occurring mycotoxin commonly associated with apples. The recall is based on the presence of this mycotoxin exceeding 50 Parts per billion (microgram/kg) which is the regulatory threshold. The risk of consuming elevated levels is vomiting, nausea and gastrointestinal discomfort. To find out exactly which LiquiFruit products are affected, visit the site here.

The recall follows quality routine checks and laboratory testing.

NCC’s Acting Commissioner Mabuza said the Commission is working closely with the supplier to monitor the recall. Pioneer Foods says the LiquiFruit products were distributed nationwide and to Botswana and Namibia, while Ceres products were exported to 25 countries.

“The Consumer Protection Act (CPA) provides for safety of consumers at all times, we therefore encourage consumers to also monitor their health in cases where they have already consumed these products,” said Mabuza.

“We are pleading with producers/manufacturers to strengthen their quality checks routines/processes to avoid these mishaps,” she said.

Sources – SAnews.gov.za and Pioneer Foods